by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 165 U.S. colleges awarded 3,762 degrees and certificates in Medical Illustration & Informatics. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 92% of graduates. College Factual ranks 86 schools in its 2027 Best Medical Illustration & Informatics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $83,588 one year after completing, rising to $99,016 after four years.
If you would like to combine your passion for art with the world of medicine, consider majoring in Medical Illustration and Informatics.
Students typically decide to focus on Medical Illustration or Medical Informatics and take separate classes based on their desired concentration. A Medical Illustration concentration includes classes in graphic design, studio arts, biology, design, anatomy, computer-aided design, and physiology to develop visual tools that aid in medical education.
A concentration in Medical Informatics involves classes in statistics, information technology, legal, ethical, and social issues, and biostatics to learn how to collect and store medical information, so it is readily available to medical professionals. Both of these majors result in careers providing essential information to doctors allowing them to successfully treat their patients.
A degree in Medical Illustration & Informatics covers Medical Illustration And Informatics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, medical illustration & informatics is a popular field of study, with 3,762 degrees awarded annually. 165 colleges award medical illustration & informatics degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 217.
By level, the 3,762 awards include 3 certificates, 38 associate degrees, 165 bachelor’s degrees, 3,457 master’s degrees and 99 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of medical illustration & informatics degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,633 of 3,762). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (902) and Black or African American (476), and international students earned 1,486.
College Factual ranks 86 schools in its 2027 Best Medical Illustration & Informatics Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 7 for bachelor’s degrees, 73 for master’s degrees and 4 for doctorates. It also ranks medical illustration & informatics schools within 25 states. In all, 165 colleges offer medical illustration & informatics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Medical Illustration & Informatics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common medical illustration & informatics credential is the master’s degree: 3,457 of the 3,762 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to medical illustration & informatics call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Computers and Electronics, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Written Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Students who are interested in pursuing a career in Medical Illustration and Informatics should be critical and analytical thinkers with a background in computers. You will use different software systems to build medical models or collect and analyze information. Students should also be detail oriented and work to ensure illustrations and information is accurate.
A Medical Illustrations and Informatics degree often leads to a to a fulltime career in the medical field. Illustrators work in offices designing a variety of educational tools, while informatics professionals spend their time on the computer working with software and inputting and analyzing data.
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How long a medical illustration & informatics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 38 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 165 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,457 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 99 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to medical illustration & informatics, at 42.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 42.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 16.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 14.6% |
| Some college courses | 8.1% |
| Master’s degree | 5.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to Medical Illustration & Informatics, with an average median salary of $107,137; the strongest outlook belongs to Computer and Information Research Scientists, at 8.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Data Specialist, Digital Health Technologist, Cancer Tumor Registrar and Certified Cancer Registrar.
Medical Illustration and Informatics graduates find jobs working for medical companies, hospitals, and medical centers. Medical Illustration graduates have gone on to work for companies that manufacture learning materials to colleges or training aids. Medical Informatics majors are employed by a variety of IT departments in the medical field. This field is growing at an average rate, providing many jobs for recent graduates.
The occupation related to medical illustration & informatics with the most projected jobs is Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars, at 2,200,733.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | 2,200,733 | -4.3% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 576,059 | -1.9% |
| Information Security Engineers | 575,902 | -3.8% |
| Blockchain Engineers | 556,747 | 5.1% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | 543,383 | -3.4% |
| Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 530,023 | -1.9% |
| Web Administrators | 510,685 | 0.7% |
Medical Illustration & Informatics graduates earn a median $83,588 one year after completing their program, $99,016 after four years and $93,260 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $83,588 |
| 4 years | $99,016 |
| 5 years | $93,260 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to medical illustration & informatics is Computer Occupations, All Other, with a median salary of $159,837.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $159,837 |
| Document Management Specialists | $147,490 |
| Information Security Engineers | $142,543 |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | $140,795 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $124,655 |
| Blockchain Engineers | $123,667 |
| Digital Forensics Analysts | $119,226 |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $103,058 |
Medical Illustration & Informatics includes 3 concentrations that together award 3,762 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Medical Informatics (3,674), Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator (83) and Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other (5). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,033,698 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical Informatics | 3,674 |
| Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator | 83 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
